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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 1 dead, 9 positive for COVID among Filipinos in Oman

1 dead, 9 positive for COVID among Filipinos in Oman

Published Jun 30, 2020 12:00 am
By Roy Mabasa Philippine Ambassador to Muscat Narciso Castañeda on Tuesday confirmed nine COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) confirmed cases and one fatality among Filipinos in Oman even as the embassy prepares to repatriate more displaced overseas Filipinos workers from that country. Speaking at the Laging Handa briefing, Castañeda said five of the nine Filipinos with confirmed COVID-19 cases are currently at the intensive care unit while the rest are recuperating and are in better condition. He said the lone Filipino fatality suffered from severe COVID-19 infection. Castañeda said Filipinos in Oman are far better than other foreign labor workers who are confined in barracks where COVID-19 infection spreads faster. Online COVID-29 monitoring platform Worldometer shows there are 39,060 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oman, of which 22,422 have recovered, and 169 fatalities, as of June 30, 2020. Last week, the Philippine Embassy in Muscat assisted in the repatriation of 279 Filipinos while preparations for additional flights back to Manila are being arranged. Castañeda said they are currently coordinating with both the Omani and Philippine governments to expedite the approval of two to three repatriation flights per month to reduce the number of those willing to go home and escape the problem of unemployment as a result of the pandemic. The embassy, through the attached Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Muscat, has already provided almost 6,500 Filipinos with US$200 each from the Akap funds of the Department of Labor and Employment
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